Stamford man arrested in alleged machete incident

Maggie Gordon

Updated 9:47 pm, Tuesday, August 20, 2013

STAMFORD -- A Stamford man was arrested Monday morning following an hourslong search by police that was prompted by reports of a domestic incident involving a machete.

Osman-Omar Menjivar-Espinoza, 30, of 137 Spruce St., was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree threatening and carrying a dangerous weapon after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in the street in front of his home.

"This was a domestic dispute, where the boyfriend came home and he accused his girlfriend of cheating on him," said Police Sgt. Robert Shawinsky.

When the situation escalated, he said the 39-year-old victim ran out of the house and into the street, fearing for her safety and "began to yell that he was going to kill her."

During the dispute, police say Menjivar-Espinoza jumped out of a truck with a machete, grabbed the victim and tried to drag her back into the vehicle.

"It was observed by witnesses that he punched her in the left side of the face, causing her left eye to swell," Shawinsky said.

By the time officers arrived, Menjivar-Espinoza had left the area, prompting a search. Around 6:30 a.m. Monday, police received a report that the suspect had been spotted in a backyard on Fairfield Avenue.

"The officers went there and they could not locate anybody," said Shawinsky. "Officers canvassed the area and found him walking on Taylor Street, which is the next street over, where he was taken into custody."

Menjivar-Espinoza was held on $75,000 bond and was to appear in court Tuesday morning.